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MCC Daily Tribune Archive

Malicious Software (Malware)


Malware is a term for malicious software created by attackers to harm your PC and potentially steal your sensitive information, which can be used for identity theft and gaining access to your various computing devices and accounts.  Attackers use compromised web pages and email links to entice you to unknowingly run their illicit scripts or code.  Once this code is ran on your PC or mobile device, your devices can become infected and be open to further breaches and data loss.

Even common, “good” web sites can be compromised and used to deliver illicit payloads to unsuspecting web visitors.  This is why it’s critical for you to protect your home PCs, tablets, and even smart phones with anti-Malware protection. 

One product available to home PC users is Spybot – Search and Destroy.  A free home version of Safer Networking’s Spybot anti-malware software can be found: https://www.safer-networking.org/spybot2-own-mirror-3/   and clicking Download.  Routinely scanning your devices for malware with software like this will help keep your identity and devices safe.

Jeffrey Dunker
Communications and Network Services / Cyber Security Awareness Committee
10/09/2014